The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-31
THE NoN-PoLITIcAL FORM.
Tho Position OF The Appeal lndorsed
The Danger To Be Avoided.

The Danger To Be hVoidod.
From the Nashville Hammer
The discussion in Memphis over the
question whether the election OF officers OF
the Taxing District should be non-political,
in accord with tho approved idea upon
which the new city government has been
heretofore conducted, or whether there
should bo return TO partisan political
methods, seems 20 have been settled by
tho action OF the Democratic executive
committee, which has Withdrawn its call
| for convention. This determination 10
maintain the non political administration
of the city government is evidently APP
proved lev Il majority OF che best citizcns OF
| Memphis. TnE ArrEAI, which has siren
| uously protested against return Ia par
lian politics in the municipal elections,
approves the action ut the com
mitec IN Withdrawing its call for
| a convention. In it, comment upon the
situation TuE APPEAL says "lho fact
that the Democrats from the inception OF
the Taxing District government Ia this
| time had been foremost In declaring for
and maintaining the non-partsan basis OF
| that government was standing and IT.
REPUTABLE proof that the committee had no
warrant for H. movement and that IL had
gone outside Ol It's powes. We arr graft
fled, therefore. that the committee has
seen its way clear 60 line Of duty that
| will reconcile all Democrats IN the support
OF ticket ui a non partisan character"
The Iruidaclie, which had insisted upon
Democratic party conirpl Of the city gov
eminent accepts ~ decisive the action nj
tho Democratic committee in Withdrawing
ia call. and indorts the citizens ticket
which wns nominated by u mass-mcciing
lew days ago. There Is a likelihood that
there will b. another citizens ticket in tho
field.
The determination 10 maintain the non.
political idea In the government of the
Memphis Taxing District is undoubtedly q
wiser pulicN than would have been return
= To partisan political methods Nashville
Il | which has hoastcd ui her reform govern
a mcnt, has not strengthened nor made mon
J. | popular that form 81 government 10y th,
= abandonment Of the non-p0liiical idea
J. The rtum 10 partisan politics in munici
Y pal elections opens the way for abuses
4 which Il wa intended 10y the reform gov
p crnmcnt ~ avoid. Besides, when sncl
p governments ~ those which Nashville an'
J, Memphis have adopted aro brought Int
: tho arena of partisan politics, the natura
Il and logical insult will 10 Ia encourage thI
- demand i1r ward representation, system
n which. n pnliticz obtain IN the administm
~ ton oi city affairs, is certainly the Demo
cratic idea. This demand for ward rcpncscn
,atinn will grow ont OF the Just demand io
minority rrppecutatiun M the city govern
= meni. 1.-THE Ihmocmtic party nominate
and il able b. elect its full ticket, liepub
lican wants will insist upon such q modiii
. cation II the government ~ will give ih
\ Republican party a minority representa-
ton In the government II the Rcpuh
y lean parry sccnm a clear majority Ia lh
NJ, city, which will enable Il IN elect iul
= rity ticket, Democratic wards will not us
content unlCr system which deprive
them of ans representation IN the city gov
D., | eminent The idea VI No taxation withOu
y representation y fundamental idea ol
Democratic ~ Republican form Of govern
" mcnt aud when political parties conicn
for control. minority representation w
comes an essential inctOr In government
/" A guummcnt, municipal, state ~ federal
= which II ~ constituted ~ 10 preclude m
nority representation or the proper nj
N rrscntatinn uf any one Of Ia parts
y necessarily defective II Is only on IA
W non political hasis, when the people col
~ scnt 10 ut aside mcr political diilcUnc,
y, ON questions which do not Affect municip,
=, matters. aud unite IN thc common purpo.
=. ui promoting the interests OF strict
~ business government on wcll.ncccptc
~ business principles, that gnycrnmci
w. such ~ that provided for Nashville ind,
~ its new charter, ot that OF Memphis, On
~ be- properly maintained aud made mo
efficient The abandonment, oi the prm
10. and basic nrn.politiCal idea must incyi
mt ably lead Ia conditions which will bo Il
al imical TO the best interests Of the publ
rh aud rncpumgu the demand for y mod,lic
AL ton of the form Under the circumstance
ch Memphis has acted wisely In DISCOURAGE
is a partisan political contest.